Building construction comprising semipolygonal units as principal transverse supports thereof



July 5, 1949. R. W. MCLAUGHLIN, JR 2,475,433

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMPRISINGSEMIPOLYGONAL UNITS AS PRINCIPALTRANSVERSE SUPPORTS THEREOF Filed Sept. 17, 1945 l0 Sheets-Sheet 1`Fully 5, 1949. R. w. MGLAUGHLIN, JR

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING SEMIPOLYGONAL UNIT AS PRINCIPALTRANSVERSE SUPPORTS THEREOF Filed Sept. 17, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 MQ A"July 5, 1949. R. w. MCLAUGHLIN, JR 2,475,433

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING SEMIPOLYGONAL UNITS AS PRINCIPALTRANSVERSE SUPPORTS THEREOF Filed Sept. 17, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 I lI I l l l i 1 l I l r l l I l I l e July 5, 1949. R. w. McLAuGHLlN, JR2,475,433

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING SEMIPOLYGONAL UNITS AS PRINCIPALTRANSVERSE SUPPORTS THEREOF Filed Sept. 17, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 July5, 1949. R. w. MGLAUGHLIN, JR 2,475,433v BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONCOMPRISING SEMIPOLYGONAL UNITS AS PRINCIPAL TRANSVERSE SUPPORTS THEREOFFiled Sept. 17, 1945 July 5, 1949. R. w. McLAuGHLlN, JR '2,475,433

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING SEMIPOLYGONAL UNITS y AS PRINCIPALTRANSVERSE SUPPORTS THEREOF v Filed sept. 17, 1945 1o sheets-sheet sJuly 5, 1949. R. w. McLAUGHLlN, .1|R 2.475,433

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING SEMIPOLYGONAL UNITS AS PRINCIPALTRANSVERSE SUPPORTS THEREOF Filed Sept. 17. 1945 10 Shejts-Sheet '7 aaE91@ R. W. McLAUGHLlN, JR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING SEMIPOLYGONALUNITS July 5, 1949.

AS PRINCIPAL TRANSVERSE SUPPORTS THEREOF v Filed Sept. 17, 1945lO'Sheets-Sheet 8 July 5, 1949. R. W. McLAUGHLlN, JR 2,475,433

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION coMPRISING sEMIPoLYGoNAI. UNITS AS PRINCIPALTRANSVERSE SUPPORTS THEREOF Filed Sept. 17, 1945 v 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 /4/so ma July 5*, 1949. R.-w, MCLAUGHLIN, JR 2,475,433

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMPRISINC SEMIPOLYGONAL UNITS As PRINCIPALTRANsvERsE `SUPPORTS THEREOP Filed Sept. 17, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 10Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATE@ @TENT OFFICE BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONCOMPRISING SEMHPOLYGONAL UNITS AS PRINCIPAL TRANSVERSE SUPPORTS THEREOFApplication September 17, 1945, Serial No. 616,716

(Cl. Ztl-2) 5 Claims.

This invention relates to structures such as buildings, and moreparticularly to a long-span, light-weight, load-supporting structureWhose component parts may be prefabricated and readily assembled toprovide, for example, a basic housing unit such as a military hutmentsuitable for use in substantially any climate with a minimum ofmodification.

One object of the present invention is to provide a light-weight,long-span building construction whose parts may be prefabricated awayfrom the point of assembly and shipped thereto, or Whose parts may bereadily fabricated at or close to the place of assembly withoutrequiring complex or expensive machinery.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building construction ofthe above type which permits of ready assembly and disassembly.

A further object is to provide a novel frame for the side and top wallsfor the above building construction, said frame comprising a pluralityof substantially semi-polygonal arches which may be readily assembledand interconnected by suitable longitudinal reinforcing members such ashorizontal ties.

Still another object is the provision of a novel frame of the abovecharacter having a large number of component parts thereof of the sameshape and interchangeable whereby the latter may be readily andeconomically fabricated and the frame may be rapidly assembled.

A still further object is the provision of a novel windov.7 constructionwhich may be operatively combined with the housing structure comprisingthe above frame so as to provide ready lighting and/or ventilation andscreening and/or blacking-out of the interior of said housing structure.

A further object is the provision of a novel housing unit comprising acontinuous multisided, semi-polygonal side and top wall structure andvertical end wall structures, said unit requiring no internallongitudinal or transverse supporting members.

A still further object is the provision of a novel floor and foundationconstruction having a particular utility in the above combination.

@ther objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessingthe features, properties and the relation of elements which will beexemplified in the articles hereinafter described and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

2 For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like referencecharacters refer to like parts throughout the various figures andwherein:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of one form of housing structureembodying the novel building construction comprehended by the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of saidhousing structure;

Fig. 3 is a central, longitudinal sectional view of said housingstructure, with parts broken away, the section being taken substantiallyalong the plane of line 3--3 of'Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view illustrating theconstruction and interconnection of the segments of the novelsemi-polygonal arch which constitutes part of the framework for the sideand top walls of said housing structure, said view illustrating themanner of securing the end segments of the arches to the foundation andthe floor structure;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the structure illustratedin Fig. 5 with the interior and exterior skin material, one of the floorjoists and one of the arches shown removed for the purpose of moreclearly illustrating the construction of the parts;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view, with parts broken away, of one form of floorconstruction which may be used in the housing structure of Figs. 1through 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, transverse, sectional View showing the detailsof parts of a side window unit and of the mounting for said unit;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, with parts broken away, illustrating theconstruction of the window mounting, the section being taken along line9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of a novel window unit which may beslidably mounted in the mounting illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in elevation `of one form of door framesuitable for the said housing structure;

12 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view, with parts broken away,taken substantially along line I2-I2 of Fig. 11 and illustrating thedetails of the door frame;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal, horizontal, sectional 3 view, with partsbroken away, taken substantially along line iii-I3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of the novelsemi-polygonal arch-like frame of the invention, said frame being shownonly partially assembled;l

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of an alternate form ofside window construction;

Fig. 16 is a transverse vertical sectional view, with parts broken away,taken substantially along line Iii- I6 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view, with parts broken away, takensubstantially along line I'l-l'i of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a top plan view, with parts broken away, of a novelalternatefloor and foundation construction for the housing structure ofthe invention;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken substantiallyalong line [v9-i9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a longitudinal vertical sectional vieW taken substantiallyalong line'20-20 of Fig. 18;

. Fig. 21 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 2|.-2l of Fig. 18 and Fig. 22 is a transverse verticalsectional view taken substantially along line 22-22 of Fig. 18.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a housing unit (Figs. 1through 4) embodying the novel building construction of the presentinvention, said unit being in the form of a hutment Suitable, forexample, for suchv military uses as personnel quarters, neld olices,hospitals and light storage units under various climatic conditions.

The housing unit may be of any desired length and may, if desired, beprovided with a plurality of transverse walls which. separate theinterior into two or more rooms. As illustrated in the drawings (Figs. 1through 4), the housing structure comprises a novel semi-polygonalarch-like supporting framework (Fig. 4) to which there are secured innerand outer wall panels l2 and I4, respectively, to form a semi-polygonaland substantially continuous shell which provides the side and top wallsof the structure. The inner and outer wall panels may be formed of` anysuitable sheet material, .a fiber board such as Masonite or plywoodvbeing preferred, although such other materials as planks, boards or aninsulating canvas blanket may be used, depending on the climate inwhichand the purpose for which the housing` structure is to be employed,as well as on .the availability of certain of these materials in thelocality in which the structure is to be assembled.

Rlig'idly secured to the ends of said semi-polygonal. side and top wallV'structure are suitable vertical .end walls comprising a grid-likelframework f8 preferably formedv of crossed and interconnectedv verticaland horizontal frame members to which are secured the inner and outerskin panels 2l) and 22 respectively of said end walls. Each end wall'maybe provided with a central door frame 2'4 (Figs. 1 and 11') and aplurality-ofl `window frames 26 which in the illustrated housingstructure are provided in pairs symmetrically disposed on opposite sidesof the door frame. Suitable flooringl Z8@ (Fig. 3), for example ofplywood, is preferably provided and mounted on'a relativelylight-weight, load-supporting framework, for example of joists 32.,mounted on a plurality of supports 31.0 (Figs. 3 andwll'.

'flooring structure.

Floor and foundation structure The novel flooring and foundationarrangement comprising supports 30 and joists 32, as shown in Fig. 7,includes three of said masonry walls arranged parallel to one anotherand extending the length of the housing structure. Mounted atop eachsaid wall is av sill 34, the sill on the central one of said walls beingpreferably somewhat wider than others to provide a greater bearingsurface for joists 32. Each said sill is preferably provided with aplurality of transverse grooves 36 which are adapted to receive joists32 and automatically space the latter at substantially equal distancesacross the length of said Each of said joists is preferably equalV inlength to half the width of the housing structure and 'each extends fromone of the outer sills to the central sill, abutting ends of coextensivepairs of said joists being interconnected by suitable splice plates 38.The latter are secured to Said-joists by any suitabley mechanical meanssuch, for example, as bolts or nails. Floor panels 28, whichare'preferably prefabricated and formed of plywood, are secured tojoists t2 to provide the flooring. It will now be apparent that variousmodifications of the above floor and foundation arrangementare'possible, as,r for example, the substitution of prefabricatedgirders for masonry-walls 30. One novel modicationof the floor andfound'ationzstructure which may be employed as an alternativeconstruction tothe above-described' structure vis shownl in Figs. 18through 22 and comprises a plurality of interlocking, transverse: andlongitudinal' supporting members 60 and 62, respectively, allof whichconstitute lo'a-d-bearing'supports for the floor and tov all of which.the oor maybe directly secured'. The foundation members forthis`structure may ber a plurality of masonry walls or girders, but arepreferably a plurality of posts Bil spaced lengthwise andy transverselyat predetermined points throughoutthe area to' be covered by saidstructure so'as to support saidstructure along. the outer walls andcorners thereof and at a plurality of the intersections of thelongitudinal and transverse members. The `foundation frameworkpreferably comprises a pairof longitudinal', outer-wall girders 66 ,andva pair of transverse outer-wall girdersy 68, only one of the girders ofeach of saidv pairs being shown in Fig; 18. Extending transverselyr ofsaid frame are joists 60 which are preferably as wide as thelongitudinal outer-wall girders 66 and which are preferably mounted invertical grooves provided in said longitudinal outer-wall girders,..saidgrooves e'xtending the entire width of said girders and serving to spacesaid girders at substantially equal distances across the length' of saidframework. Joists 60 may extend continuously across the widthV of thefoundation structure, but are preferably formed of portions shorter thanthe width of said. structure., said portions being secured together asby suitable splice plates 'I0 (Figs. 18 and 19).

Extending longitudinally of said .framework at equally spaced intervalsare supporting members 52 preferably of a. width less than the width ofjoists tu, as, for example. of a width equal to half the width of saidjoists. Each of the latter is preferably provided withl a plurality oftransverse vertical grooves adapted to'cooperate with grooves in saidlongitudinal supporting members whereby an'interlocking construction isobtained. Transverse wallI girders 68 (Figs. 18 and 20) are also dadoedas to receivethe ends of and space said longitudinal members. Thevarious elements of this novel flooring framework may be readilyprefabricated and shipped to the point of assembly either as separateelements or with portions of the finished framework assembled forsplicing to other portions. It is to be noted that the upper edges ofboth the transverse joists 63 and longitudinal supporting members 62 arecoplanar whereby the flooring may be mounted so as to engage all of saidsupporting members and whereby the floor panels may be directly securedto all of said floor members. This provides a relatively rigid, althoughlight-weight construction for the flooring which is particularly suitedfor prefabricated housing units.

End wall construction As shown in Fig. 1, the end walls of the housingunit are provided with a plurality of window frames 26 which preferablyhave xed windows d mounted therein. It is to be understood, however,that said windows may be of any desired construction such as casementwindows, and may be positioned in any desired places on the end wall.The arrangement shown in Fig. 1 is more suited to colder climates,whereas if the hutment is to be used in warmer climates, the end wallsmay be provided with substantially larger window frames and window andscreen arrangements permitting a greater ventilation of the interior ofthe hutment.

Door frame 2d is preferably centrally located within the end wall andone type of construction for said frame is illustrated in detail inFigs. 11 through i3. prises a sill l2 mounted upon flooring 23 andhaving a shoulder (12a formed in the outer or front end thereof, saidshoulder abutting outer wall E2. Extending vertically upward from saidsill are jamb members (lli, each of which also abuts outer wall 22 atits front or outer face. A. suitable outer trim member it (Fig. 13)engages and is secured to the outer face of each said jamb member andoverlaps the edge portions of wall panels 22. At its inner or rear face,each of said jamb members is provided with a further trim member i8which is angular in transverse crosssection and has one side thereofabutting the inner or rea-r face of the jamb member while the other sideengages the side of said `iamb member and its end abuts inner wall panel2l). A head member 5@ (Fig. i2) extends horizontally between jambs Mland is secured to one of the horizontal members of t Le end wallsupporting framework i8. Said head member is provided at its front endwith a trim member 52 and at its rear end with a trim member aicorresponding in function and shape to trim member 48. Mounted in theframe that is provided by jamb members i4 and head member 5ft is asuitable door stop 56.

Side and top wall construction To provide the main structural wallsupport for the housing construction of the invention, a novel,semi-polygonal, arch-like framework is employed which, in the formshown, comprises a plurality of novel, transverse, eight-sided, regular,semi-polygonal, lighteweight arches 82 (Figs. 5, 8 and 14),interconnected by means of longitudinally extending, substantiallyhorizontal tie members 84. Each of said arches comprises a plurality ofnovel rib members or segments 86 which are preferably alike in everyrespectl facilitating assembly and disassembly and which may In the formshown, said frame combe readily prefabricated in quantity because oftheir simple construction. Each segment may be formed of a rectangularbeam, for example of plywood, which has its ends trimmed by the removalof a corner portion, the angle of the out to the longitudinal axis ofthe beam being equal to the external angle formed by the sides of aneight-sided semi-polygon, i. e. the angle which the trimmed inclinededge 86a (Fig. 5) makes with the extension of the longitudinal edge 86his equal to the external angle at which the longitudinal axes ofadjoining segments B intersect. The trimmed end portion of each segmentis adapted to overlap the body portion of the adjoining segment and, bytrimming said segment at the above specified angle, the edges of theoverlapping portions are substantially flush with one another. Eachsegment is provided at each end, at a point substantially opposite thepoint at which the angular trimmed edge 86a begins, with a suitablegroove 83 extending substantially half the width of said segment, thecenter line of said groove bisecting the angle formed between saidtrimmed edge and the longitudinal edge of the l.. rectangular portion ofthe segment, whereby whenever the ends of two of said segments arecaused to overlap with their inclined edges 86a flush with thelongitudinal edges b of their rectangular body portions, the grooves arein substantial registry with one another. Segments 86 are preferablysecured together as by bolts 8l to complete the construction of each ofarches 82, one bolt being preferably provided on each side of theregistering grooves 88. Grooves S8 are adapted to cooperate with notches9i! (Fig. 14) formed in longitudinal tie member 8d to provide aninterlocking structure which further reinforces the resultingconstruction. It is preferable that alternate arches 82 have grooves onopposite sides thereof and that the notches in the longitudinal ties arealternately formed in opposite directions, i. e. on the exterior andinterior of said ties, whereby arches S2 notch alternately over theinside and outside edges of said horizontal ties. The bottom segment ofeach arch (Figs. 5 and 6) preferably overlaps one of oor joists 32 andis rigidly secured thereto as by bolts 92. The bolt or other mechanicalconnection whereby said joists and segment are secured to one another isalso adapted to extend through the vertical sides of an angular clip @ilwhich is rigidly secured to masonry sill dit as by being logscrewedthereto. This simple three-way interconnection of the foundation, ooringand side wall framework contributes substantially to the live-loadstrength and resilience of the structure.

To further improve the unitary character of the substantially continuoustransverse framework, comprising joists 32 and arches 82, which is thusobtained, the bottom longitudinal tie 8d (Figs. 5 and 6) on each side ofthe arch is preferably rigidly secured to the top of the floor joists32. The inner and outer wall. panels l2 and ifi, respectively, aremounted on the inner and outer edges of ties 84 and arches 82 andsecured thereto in any suitable manner, as, for example, by nails. In apreferred form, outer wall panels ifi have the bottom edges extending aslight distance beyond the upper edge of the next lower panel (Figs. 1and 4) Side window construction and mounting To light and ventilate theinterior of a housing unit comprising the novel arch-like,semi-polygonal framework of the invention, avariety of windowconstructions may be provided. One

novel form of windowconstructicn is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 8 through i0andvconsists Vof a plurality of frames l| provided, for example, in theside wall panel which comprises the wall portion next to the-bottomwalll panels of the semi-polygonal side wall shell of the housing unit.Each of said frames is preferably spaced from the adjacent frame adistance equal to approximately three times its width. The frames arepreferably located so as to be coeXtensive with the space dened by apair of adjacent arches 82 and a pair of longitudinal, semi-polygonaltie members 84 (Figs. 3 and 9) of the framework, whereby the segments 86of said arches may provide the side walls of each frame. Asillustrated,the head of each` of the frames |00 ispreferably the longitudinal tie 84which connects the upper ends of said segments. A sill |02, which ispreferably substantially horizontal, is mounted on the longitudinal tie84 which connects with the lower ends of the frame segments 86, saidsill being notched as-at |04 to accurately fix its positionon said tieandv to Yprovide a more secure mounting therefor. At its inner end, saidsill `is provided with an upwardly extending shoulder |06 whose innerface is parallel to frame segments 86, said face being spaced from the.plane of theinner surface of the wall panel mounted on .said segments by`a distance equal to the thickness of a Window sash unit |00 (Fig. l0)for which said sill thus provides a track. The trackpreferably extendscontinuouslyA along the :entire length of the wall, an extension thereofbeyond. said sill member |02 being provided by a continuous strip orpanel H0 (Fig. 9). The latter strip is preferably notched'as at I I I(Fig. 3) opposite each of frames |00 to receive the inner end of saidsill member and to provide a fur-ther support therefor. To provide acontinuous track for the head of Window sash |08, a suitably formed andsubstantially continuous member I|2 is secured to the longitudinal tie84 providing the head of frames |00. Slidably mounted inthe tracks thusprovided are aV plurality of window-sashes |08 of novel construction.One of said sashes is associated with each of frames |00 and -each isapproximately three times the width of said frame, being divided intothree panels. One of said panels may be formed, for example, of atransparent material I4 such as glass or plastic, another of suitablemetallic or plastic screening H6, and the third of va light-imperviousmaterial such as a blackout curtain ||8. Each of window units |08 slideshorizontally in the tracks provided therefor and one important advantageof using said units is that the entire window frame opening may beavailed of for lighting and ventilation. Moreover, by means of thisarrangement, black-out conditions within the housing may be easilyobtained.

It is to be understood that any one of the spaces defined by adjoiningrib 82 and adjoining longitudinal tie members 84 may serve as a framefor awindow sash or asa mounting for a window frame, and the details ofone form of window construction, which may be used for example in anynumber of adjacent or separated longitudinal spaces of said framework,are shown in Figs. through 17. As illustrated, said window comprises anauxiliary frame or trim mounted within the frame provided by adjacentsegments 86 of transverse rib 82 and the adjacent longitudinal ties 84which interconnect the upper and lower ends of said segments. Auxiliaryframe |30 is provided with a central .partition .|32 which divides thesame into substantially two parts each of which is provided with a sash|34. The upper sash is hinged at its upper end to the head member offrame |30 by a suitable surface hinge |36. Lower sash |34 is similarlyhinged as iby a hinge |38 to the lower end of partition |32. sashes |34may mount a suitable transparent sheet material such as glass or plastic|40, the latter being secured therein by suitable panelling |42. Mountedon the internal surface of frame |30 is a screen |44 which is secured inposition by a suitable panel mounting |46 butt-jointed at the cornersinto operative engagement with the main and auxiliary frames.

There is thus provided a novel building construction which not onlylends itself to prefabrication, but who-se component parts may bereadily manufactured with a minimum of equipment close to the site atwhich the structure is to be used. The only machines necessary for themanufacture of these structures in quantities are rip and cut off sawsequipped with dado heads and drill press.

The novel construction compri-ses a basic arch structure which isadapted for use with different oor systems and different types ofwindows to meet climatic requirements. A wide range of live-loadinsulation and Ventilating requirements are met by this basic structureadapting the housing units embodying the structure for such militaryuses as personnel quarters, iield houses, hospitals and light storageunits under climatic conditions varyingfrorn equatorial jungles to themost exposed sites in the Aleutians. For example, by using insulatingcanvas as the outer skin and providing a minimum of window spaceconsistent with proper lighting requirements, the housing structure maybe employed under such extreme climatic conditions as are encountered inour most advanced Arctic air base. The novel, reinforced, -semipolygonalarch support may also constitute the basic structural element for anytype of structure requiring light, 1ong-span construction as, forexample, small hangars, light bridges, garages, light storage buildingsand such farm structures as barns and poultry and hog hou-ses.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article, and differentembodiments of the invention could -be made without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. As a new article of manufacture, a building construction comprisingas a side and top frame structure a plurality of transverse structuralunits of regular semi-polygonal shape, each said unit comprising aplurality of interchangeable structural members and being provided withnotches at the apices thereof, and a plurality of interchangeablelongitudinal ties, each said tie being interlocked` with each -saidstructural unit at the apices of the latter, each said tie beingprovided with notches whereby it may be crosslapped with said units,successive notches in said ties opening in opposite directions wherebyeach successive unit overlap-s opposite sides of each tie.

2. In a building construction, in combination with foundation walls andsills mounted on said walls, a floor framework comprising a plurality ofsupporting members,v a plurality of transverse structural unitscomprising a plurality of segments, a plurality oflongitudinal ties,each said tie being interlocked with each said unit at the apices of thelatter, each end tie engaging the upper faces of said transversefloor-supporting members and each end segment of each said unitoverlapping one of said transverse oorsupporting members, and mechanicalmeans securing together the overlapping portions of said supportingmembers and said structural units and one of said sills.

3. In a building construction, in combination With foundation Walls andsills mounted on said walls, a floor framework comprising a plurality ofsubstantially parallel, transverse supporting members dadoed in saidsills, a plurality of transverse structural units of regularsemipolygonal shape comprising a plurality of segments mechanicallysecured together, a plurality of longitudinal ties interlocked with eachsaid unit, each end tie engaging the upper faces of said transversehoor-supporting members and each end segment of each said unitoverlapping one of said transverse floor-supporting members, andmechanical means securing together the overlapping portions of saidsupporting members and said structural units and one of said sill-s.

4. In a building construction, in combination with foundation Walls andsills mounted on said walls, a floor framework comprising a plurality ofsubstantially parallel, transverse supporting members dad-ced in saidsills, a plurality of transverse structural units of regularsemipolygonal shape comprising a plurality of segments mechanicallysecured together, a plurality of longitudinal ties, each said tie beinginterlocked with each said unit at the apices of the latter, each endtie engaging the upper faces of said transverse licor-supporting membersand the end segments of each said unit overlapping one of saidtransverse licor-supporting members, and mechanical means securingtogether the overlapping portions of said supporting members and saidstructural units and one of said sills.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a building construction comprisingas a side and top frame structure a plurality of transverse structuralunits of regular semi-polygonal shape, and

10 a plurality of interchangeable longitudinal ties, each said unitcomprising a plurality of inter- -changeable light-Weight structuralmembers, each said member having a rectangular body portion and taperedend portions, said structural members being secured end to end with thetapered ends thereof overlapping the rectangular body portions ofadjacent members and with an edge of each said tapering portion flushwith an edge of the rectangular portion of the member said taperedportion overlaps, each said tie and each said unit being provided with aplurality of notches whereby each said tie i-s interlocked with eachsaid unit at the apices of the latter, successive notches in said tiesopening in opposite directions whereby each successive unit overlapsopposite sides of each tie.

I ROBERT W. MCLAUGHLIN, Jn.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 332,060 Davis D'ec. 8, 18851,064,573 Ulrich June 10, 1913 1,470,298 Straight Oct. 9, 1923 1,526,278Gilmore Feb. 10, 1925 1,573,724 Lowe et al. Febl 16, 1926 1,687,850Shodron Oct. 16, 1928 2,076,877 Brown Apr. 13, 1937 2,108,479 ElmendorfFeb. 15, 1938 2,317,621 McLaughlin Apr. 27, 1943 2,319,245 Lunken et al.May 18, 1943 2,321,221 Linehan June 8, 1943 2,329,041 Ford Sept. 7, 19432,384,198 Sheldon Sept. 4, 1945 2,392,678 Loetscher Jan. 8, 1946 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 479,046 France Nov. 13, 1915 414,683 GermanyJune 5, 1925 132,285 Austria Mar. 10, 1933 540,881 Great Britain Nov. 4,1941

